Historical Overview of the Teaching of Music Theory Subjects as Part of the School Curriculum in Hungary

Abstract

The primary sources for a historical overview of secondary-level musical education in Hungary are publications on school histories, yearbooks, and the work of outstanding teachers. An overview of theoretical subjects is made far more difficult, however, by the fact that both the name and content of these subjects have undergone considerable change over time. It was only in the mid-20th century when secondary-level musical education became independent from an earlier institutional form, the music school (Zenede in Hungarian), which taught a far wider range of age groups, lasted for 10-11 years, and characterised earlier music education for decades. Music schools, which offered, among others, secondary-level musical training, had existed since the second half of the 19th century. This paper is part of a more comprehensive methodological work designed to bring to light the historical teaching of music theory in Hungarian musical training with regard to its roots, curricula, handbooks, and teaching practices up to the mid-20th century, when the system of secondary schools specialising in music education was established. Keywords: history of music teaching, professional musical training, teaching music theory